Preparing for release

Prisoners Abroad has published two booklets to help both prisoners and their families prepare for release.

Coming Home

This booklet has information and interesting case studies to help a person who is returning to the UK after a prison sentence.

Advice on accommodation, housing and benefits

Applying for work with a criminal record

Returning to the UK and the Sexual Offences Act 2003

Welcome Home

This booklet has information about return and resettlement to the UK and how the family can prepare.

How you can prepare practically for release and resettlement

Advice on housing, benefits and employment

How you can prepare emotionally for the day of release

Letting us know your relative or friend's likely release date will mean that we can send out these booklets in good time.

You can request these booklets from us at any time.

One family member wrote about her grandson:

'He quickly met the Prisoners Abroad Resettlement Team, who supplied him with clothes and a mobile phone..... I felt so relieved to see him getting so much support; all the support he got was also support for me. But it didn't stop there. Prisoners Abroad also arranged for him to attend courses to enable him to build his self esteem, show him how to believe in himself and prepare him for work and job interviews'

We can only offer a Resettlement Service to prisoners who are in contact with us before they arrive back in the UK and if we have enough information about their situation (e.g. history, health and practical needs). If your relative or friend will require support when they come back, please make sure that they get in touch with us at the earliest opportunity. You can find more information about how the service works on the resettlement pages of our website.

If your relative or friend is approaching release and you would like to talk about resettlement with us, get in touch on 0808 172 0098 (freephone) or email us at [email protected] and someone will get back to you as quickly as they can.